Footage has been released of a Greater Manchester woman who bravely refused to hand over her bag to a teenage thug and was repeatedly punched in the face.

The 31-year-old was walking along Rochdale Road in Blackley at around 6.35pm on 4 June, when a hooded teenager, who had been standing on the pavement with a group of friends, approached her from behind and attempted to snatch her bag.

The teenager crept up behind the woman (Picture: GM Police/YouTube)

But when the woman refused to let go, the frustrated thug lashed out in anger, punching her a number of times in the face and body.

Members of the public rushed to the woman’s aid when they saw the attack, helping her to drive off the attacker, who ran away as soon as people arrived on the scene.

The thug is described as being white, 14 or 15 years old, 5ft 5in tall, with blonde hair.